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Prepositions after honor

Honor by, with, for, in, or as?

Honor can be followed by different prepositions depending on whether you describe a method, award, reason, role, or context.

Quick answer

Common combinations with honor

Use honor with for an achievement or reason, honor with for an award or special treatment, honor by for the method of showing respect, and honor as for a role or identity. In usually introduces a separate context.

She was honored for her research.
The university honored him with a medal.
They honored her as a pioneer.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
honor for + achievement

Giving recognition for something

Use for to state the reason someone receives honour or recognition.

He was honored for his bravery.
2
honor with + award

Giving a prize or privilege

Use with when presenting an award, title, or opportunity.

The committee honored her with a lifetime achievement award.
3
honor by + action

Showing respect through an action

Use by to explain how respect is shown.

They honored the victims by holding a ceremony.
4
honor as + role

Recognising someone in a role

Use as when identifying the role or status in which someone is honoured.

The city honored him as a local hero.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
honor by
The school honored the coach by naming the gym after her.
Shows the method used to express honour.
honor in
They met in honor of the founder.
In is not usually selected directly by honor; it more often appears in phrases such as in honor of.
honor with
She was honored with a scholarship.
Giving an award or distinction.
honor for
He was honored for his service.
Giving recognition because of something.
honor as
The group honored her as its first president.
Recognising a role or identity.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using honor in as a direct pattern

Honor rarely takes in directly. Use in honor of for dedication or respect.

✕ They honored in the ceremony. ✓ They held the ceremony in honor of the founder.

Confusing honor for and honor with

For gives the reason; with gives the award or distinction.

✕ She was honored with her charity work. ✓ She was honored for her charity work.

Omitting the object after honor

Honor usually needs a person, group, or achievement as its object.

✕ The town honored with a parade. ✓ The town honored the team with a parade.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The actor was honored ___ his contribution to film.
2. The academy honored her ___ a special prize.
3. They honored the scientist ___ creating a memorial lecture.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between honor for and honor with?

Honor for gives the reason for recognition, while honor with names the award or benefit given.

Can I use honor as?

Yes. Use honor as to recognise someone in a role or identity.

Is honor in correct?

Usually no as a direct pattern. English more often uses in honor of as a separate phrase.

hack-into-by-at-to, in "haggle with" or "haggle for"? "hail from" or "hail as"? hamper by, due, in, for or throughout? "handle by" or "handle in"? hang in, from, over, around or onto? "happen to" or "happen in"? harass by, in, at, for or with? "harm by" or "harm to"? harvest from, in, for, at or by? hasten to, by, from, after or into? hate on, for, by, about or in?

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